Super Bowl Opening Line and Injuries

It all comes down to this. After a long and exciting season of NFL betting, only one game remains on the betting card; the 2012 Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants. Here’s a look at the opening lines for the big game.

New England opens as a 3-point favorite at 5Dimes. Plenty of points are expected from these two talented offenses as the total is currently set at 55 points.

Both teams come into the game hot both straight up and against the spread. New England has won 10 straight games straight up and is 6-3-1 ATS over that span, while New York has won five straight games both straight up and ATS. Each team has gone in a different direction in totals betting; the total has gone OVER in seven of New England’s last eight games but has gone UNDER in five of New York’s last six games.

When these two teams met in New England earlier this season on November 6, the Giants won 24-20 as a 9.5-point underdog. New York also won as a big underdog the last time these two teams met in the Super Bowl, ending the Patriots’ bid at an undefeated season in 2008 with a 17-14 win in Super Bowl XLII as a 13.5-point underdog.

New England tight end Rob Gronkowski was banged up in the AFC Championship Game, but he is probable to play in the Super Bowl. Chad Ochocinco is also expected to make a return after missing the game against Baltimore. Kyle Arrington is currently considered questionable with an eye injury; Arrington is a valuable cornerback for New England, so keep a close eye on his status as we get closer to Super Bowl Sunday.

New York Giants linebacker Chase Blackburn is currently considered questionable with a shoulder injury. Blackburn has started each of the last seven games for the Giants and has 13 solo tackles in the playoffs thus far.

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